By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
Abundant Life won in exciting fashion last Friday night just up the road at Oak Grove. The Owls and Hornets scrapped through regulation and two overtimes, with the visiting team coming out on top 71-66.
The game became a two-man show between Abundant Life senior guard Colby Woolverton and Oak Grove sophomore guard Cedrick Williams.Woolverton finished with a game-high 38 points while Williams led the Hornets with 35.
“That kid can play,” Oak Grove head coach Wayne Herren said. “It was a battle. We just missed shots in the end.”
The Hornets had two shots to win it in regulation. After a missed shot, Brandon Hudson got a point-blank putback attempt, but missed it, sending it to the extra period.
The first overtime saw little action. Oak Grove pulled the ball out to halfcourt and held it. Abundant Life was content to let them hold it, and the two teams stood around for the rest of the extra frame. The Hornets scored with 30 seconds left, but Abundant Life answered with a bucket after being trapped at halfcourt. The Hornets bailed the Owls out after successfully executing the halfcourt trap by fouling.
“Their 1-2-2 zone gave us trouble all night, so I just pulled it out to see if they would come and get us,” Herring said. “They didn’t so we just held it. I thought we might be able to capitalize on our quickness if we could get some space, but give them credit. They didn’t go for it.”
Tied at 63 to start the second extra period, action stayed slow. Not a single bucket was scored. All eight of Abundant Life’s points were scored at the foul line, as well as all three of Oak Grove’s points.
Woolverton hit six of those eight while Keathley nailed the other two to put the Owls in front to stay.
Abundant Life took command of the game early and maintained it through three quarters. The Owls jumped out to a 17-9 lead, and took a 32-21 lead into halftime.
The lead continued to grow in the third, with Abundant Life carrying a 45-32 advantage in the final quarter of regulation.
Oak Grove then went off for 29 points in the fourth, led by Williams until he fouled out with a little over a minute to play.
Keathley added 11 total points to supplement Woolverton’s 38. Dane Lottner added 10 for the Owls.
Brandon Hudson and Corderrell Harris each scored 12 for the Hornets.
Abundant Life hit 29 of 41 foul shots, including a 17 of 21 effort by Woolverton.
Oak Grove made 23 of 30 from the line, but hit just one of 17 from beyond three-point range.
Abundant Life opened conference play on the road last night against defending conference and state champion Riverview.
Look for details of that encounter in Saturday’s edition of The Leader.
